Losing Fish On A Rattletrap 2025
G8RBob reply :
I've lost a number of fish recently while fishing a lipless crank bait. I get them to the boat, but then lose them. What Is the recommended technique for getting the fish into the boat? A net? Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts.
Bob
livetofish28 reply :
What rod are you using? other than that it happens
tight lines
Andrew
Mccallister25 reply :
I agree with livetofish about the rod concern. You def want a good parobolic rod with a moderate action for cranks. I like a moderate action for all of my treble lures.
Catt reply :
If you give the bass any slack at any time it will have all the leverage needed to throw hard lures.
Kevin22 reply :
Unless you are using a moderate action rod, chances are the fish has already tore a hole in its lip. You have two choices once you turn his head and get him coming towards the boat. 1. keep right on cranking and boat flip him. 2. have a net ready and scoop him up as soon as he gets in range. If you let him get his head down he'll probably rip the hooks out, if he gets his head up he'll use the bad angle to toss that lipless right over your head.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Keep the line tight and keep them from jumping is the best way to land fish on lipless baits. Changing the hooks is a good idea too. Do everything right and you're still going to lose fish, just the nature of the beast with lipless baits.
Sam reply :
On 6/24/2014 at 10:35 AM, Catt said:Catt, on 23 Jun 2014 - 22:35, said:If you give the bass any slack at any time it will have all the leverage needed to throw hard lures.
Bingo!
Any slack and away they go.
Sometimes you don't even know you are giving them any slack.
Check your hooks. If you don't change out the manufacturer's hooks to a sharper name brand hook you are asking for trouble with the Rats.
Sam reply :
Bob, two more things.
You can use a net if you want.
But more important, and Catt will agree with this, you have to yell "Geaux Tigers" when you set the hook!!!
That will guarantee a successful landing.
G8RBob reply :
SEC! SEC! Geaux Tigers. No problem.
Thanks for the tips. Now I've got work to do, changing hooks.
Mccallister25 reply :
Who are the Tigers? Go Dawgs!!!
slimshad reply :
I fish them alot in the early spring. I always change the hooks to the short shank KVD hooks. One size bigger. I am usually fishing for bigger fish on Guntersville though. They don't jump much when the water is down around 50. I do use a glass rod that helps me NOT pull the bait away when setting the hook. It helps with fighting the fish also. I would say change out the hooks or really give yours a good sharpen.
Ratherbfishing reply :
Go one size larger with the hooks-especially the back hook. If you can't do that, bend the hooks out a little.
Big239Fish reply :
Are you using braid or fluoro? (Or mono)
Zach P reply :
Honestly I have found that your success rate for landing fish dramatically decreases if the fish is able to jump. Now sometimes it just isn't possibly to keep the fishing from jumping but try and keep your rod tip as close to the water as possible once you have have a fish on a hardbait such as a rattle trap or crankbait. When the fish jumps they are getting a big advantage over you because your line will more often times than not get slack in it.
masterbass reply :
With treble baits you have to either use a parabolic rod or loosen your drag. For lipless I prefer a graphite rod, but loosen my drag. I can rip it through grass better.
Raul reply :
On 6/24/2014 at 7:30 AM, G8RBob said:I've lost a number of fish recently while fishing a lipless crank bait. I get them to the boat, but then lose them. What Is the recommended technique for getting the fish into the boat? A net? Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts.
Bob
I´ve caught thousands of fish on Rat L-Traps, have never used a net to land them so the best technique I can recommend to you is to change them POS stock hooks they come with. My finger tip is sharper than those hooks.
Hogsticker reply :
Use a moderate fast rod and upgrade to some 2X short shank hooks. The rest is up to you. I watch my line and when that fish starts coming to the surface I get ready or try to keep it from getting airborne. Use a net
Catt reply :
Where y'all buying Traps from?
Must be someone's ancient stock!
Down here Traps have came with Mustad Triple Grip Hooks for several years now.
Raul reply :
On 6/25/2014 at 2:14 AM, Catt said:Where y'all buying Traps from?
Must be someone's ancient stock!
Down here Traps have came with Mustad Triple Grip Hooks for several years now.
Could be, got a box stuffed with Traps I purchased loooooong time ago at BPS, as I said, my finger tip is sharper than those hooks so I change them.
BasshunterJGH reply :
Swap out the hooks w/ owners. Best trebles on the market in my opinion
TrippyJai reply :
The new Rat-L-Traps have the Bill Lewis set lock treble hooks and they don't benefit from an upgrade unless you want a 2x hook or to up size them. They are one of the sharpest and best stock hooks on any crankbait under $10. The only baits I have in my tackle box that have better hooks are my Spro's which come with gamakatsu's and Jackall's which I think comes with Owner ST-36's.
fishballer06 reply :
Put some new hooks on there. I like using Gami's.
J BASS reply :
Very common but as said change hooks
The old pro trap had the line slide thru the bait but I never liked them much myself
iceintheveins reply :
A moderate, crankbait type rod is crucial. I change the hooks on all rat L traps to short shank gammies.
BadBassWV reply :
Fish Braided Line.
G8RBob reply :
I have taken some of the advice that has been offered. I have upgraded my hooks by going to upgraded lures, Sebile Flatt Shad's. I am using a glass, moderate action rod. Lately, my success rate on boating fish has greatly improved. Best I can recall, I have only lost one fish in the past several weeks. All others, in the boat.
Braided line? I thought that was a no no as the lack of stretch would pull the lure through the fish's mouth. ??
Thanks,
Bob
BadBassWV reply :
I fish braid and nothing else. I have never had the problem with pulling the lure through the fish's mouth that alot of people talk about. It just seems to me that all the stretch would make for a weaker hook set. But then again to each his own.
Jigfishn10 reply :
Yes sir, braided line. Get the stretch from your rod, I like a moderate fast action rod, MH or H power. The braided line would be for the classic ripping through grass technique.
Larger size hooks works well. I like to switch out a #4 belly hook for a #2 on a 1/2 oz lipless crank. You can pair up the rear hook with a #2 as well and not kill the action of the bait.
WIGuide reply :
It wouldn't hurt to loosen your drag a bit even with the moderate action rod.
related Fishing Tackle topic
previous topic
© 2025 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.